Jim Carrey has revealed his father inspired his comedy dream, as he made a speech at an Iowa university.

The 52-year-old funnyman made a touching tribute to his dad Percy as he accepted an honour from the Maharishi University of Management reported the Transcendental Meditation Blog.

"So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality," he told the graduates.

"My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. When I was 12-years-old, he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive."

He added: "I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don't love, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love."

Jim, who received an honorary degree in fine arts during the ceremony, also revealed how an epiphany at the age of 28 encouraged him to "free people from concern, just like my dad" through comic relief.

"I've often said that I wish people could realise all their dreams and wealth and fame, so that they could see that it's not where they're going to find their sense of completion," he said.

"Your job is not to figure out how it's going to happen for you, it's opening a door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it. And don't worry about missing your cue, because there's always doors opening, and they keep opening."